City of Wetaskiwin awards tender for Main Street Phase 3 project

The Main Street Phase 3 project for the City of Wetaskiwin has been awarded tender at a price of just over $3 million.

City council approved the contract for construction services for the project be awarded to Border Paving Ltd. The decision came during council’s May 29 special council meeting; Coun. Joe Branco voted in opposition of the motion.

Sue Howard, director of engineering and development, explained to council three firms responded to the tender and a team of seven, for the city, assessed each submission in accordance with the evaluation posted with the tender.

“Overall, Border Paving scored the highest with the lowest bid,” said Howard.

Coun. Wayne Neilson questioned how the Main Street Phase 3 project construction will tie into the city’s Jubilee Park project; the two projects are not covered by the same budget.

In an interview with the Pipestone Flyer, Howard said both of the projects were scheduled to be finished last year but the work could not be completed in time. As a result the work is being given to two separate contractors.

Howard says near the end of June administration will come back to council with concept plans for a sloped interface.

Council is also set to see concept plans for the Jubilee Park. “If council sees a concept they like for that interface we’ll just remove it from Border (Paving),” said Howard.

“Provided council gives us feedback soon enough I don’t see why we can’t get it done this year,” she added.

Neilson also asked what kind of completion date the Main Street Phase 3 project was looking at.

The original date was set for August, 2017. However, Howard informed council it has been extended to Sept. 15, 2017.

“The project team is fully aware of the constraint of time on this project,” said Howard. She explained penalties would be in place if milestones of the project were not hit or the conditions of the contract not properly met.

Councillors voiced concerns on the tight project budget. There is a 10 per cent contingency fee included with the project if needed.

“I guess I’m concerned if we’re running tight, and the 10 per cent contingency isn’t good enough, that we will go over budget,” said Neilson.

Howard says 10 per cent for a road project is typical and there are no geotechnical concerns for the project, which is where issues could arise from.

Branco questioned what the average overrun of the previous Main Street project phases were.

City manager Dave Burgess says Phase 4 (which was completed before Phase 3) did not come in as planned. “This is actually quite favourable, what this phase is coming in at.”